Portable desk



D. B OKELLY PORTABLE DE SK Filed Dec. 31, 1936' 3 Sheets-Sheet l I. I I I ATTORNEY.

, 1%. D. B. OKELLY 291109813 PORTABLE DESK Filed Dec. 31, 1936 3 meets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

10 Claims.

My improvements relate to portable desks for use by public speakers, readers, lecturers, actors, etc., and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a portable desk in which an address -;or speech may be placed in the form of a scroll adapted to be unrolled and moved to progressively reveal the address or speech to the speakers or users view during the delivery of the address or speech; second, to provide a speakers desk with power driven mechanism for feeding a scroll containing the speakers words thereon past the vision of the speaker; third, to provide a speakers desk adapted for portable use and automatically and mechanically operated; fourth, to provide a portable desk for speakers or musicians or similar uses and adapted to be operated either by power driven means or by manually operated means; fifth, to provide a speakers desk equipped with an automatically operated scroll together with an automatically operated clock mechanism for regulating the address of the speaker or user to a predetermined time; sixth, to provide a speakers desk having automatically operated scroll means with means for causing the scroll means to pause 2'51for a predetermined length of time while being read by the speaker; seventh, to provide a speakers desk having a scroll with power driving means equipped with a Geneva wheel mechanism to provide intermittent operation of the scroll; eighth, to provide a speakers desk having a roller supported scroll with power driving means equipped with a free wheeling mechanism to enable rolls and the scroll to be manually operated as desired; ninth, to provide a speakers desk having 351a power driven scroll with means for changing the speed of the scroll; tenth, to provide a speakers desk having a scroll with a driving means utilizing friction or gear drive mechanism; eleventh, to provide a speakers desk with an adltl justably mounted lens member for magnifying a scroll from'which the words of the speaker or user are being read; twelfth, to provide a speakers desk having a power driven scroll and a clock mechanism with a switch mechanism for 4:5 controlling the operation of the clock mechanism and power driven scroll; thirteenth, to provide a speakers desk having a power driven scroll means mounted on a base member with a cover housing pivotally mounted on the base member 50 and adapted to enclose and protect the power driven scroll means; fourteenth, to provide a speakers desk with a lens magnifying member positioned to best accommodate the correct optical vision of the speaker; and fifteenth, to provide 55 a speakers desk adapted for use by a musician or similar performer in the playing of music indicated on a movably mounted scroll or similar member.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of my portable desk and disclosing a portion of it broken away to more fully disclose the scroll and rolls; Fig. 2, a side View of the portable desk with its cover housing broken away substantially on the line Z2, Fig. 1, to more clearly disclose the mechanism therein; Fig. 3, a partial sectional view of the portable desk taken on the line 33, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a partial sectional View of the portable desk taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a partial sectional view of the portable desk taken on the line 55, Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a front view of the portable desk drawn to a smaller scale than that of Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 7, a partial sectional view of the portable desk taken on the line 1-4, Fig. 3.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My invention incorporates improvements on the portable desk disclosed in my U. S. Patent 1,636,783, issued July 26, 1927, and the mechanism disclosed in said U. S. patent has been improved by the application of automatic and manual control together with power driven mechanism to provide a portable automatic speakers desk.

My portable desk in this present application is designed tomeet the needs of the every day user of reading matters such as radio announcers, casting directors, actors, readers and lecturers such as preachers, teachers, judges, lawyers, doc-- tors, business executives, and in fact anyone utilizing the compilations of definite data which are to be used accurately and dispensed with speed and precision in a public address or stated matters.

My portable desk provides a mechanism which is a necessary adjunct in practically all walks of commercial life and in which there are many uses therefor.

It is also adapted to be utilized advantageously in the music world to hold and dispense the music as the musician desires.

My portable desk comprises the base or floor member I having an upper land or portion 2 for supporting the driving, control and scroll support mechanism of my invention, said driving, control and scroll support mechanism being enclosed by the covering or housing 3 which is secured to the land 2 of the base member I by a hinge mechanism 4 provided with the flanges 5 secured to the cover 3 by the rivets 6, the hinge mechanism 4 being further provided with the flanges '1' secured to the land 2 by the screws 8.

The cover 3 is preferably constructed of material which will provide light weight and economy in manufacture and the lower edge portion of the cover 3 may be folded as at 8 to provide a bead therearound and to reinforce the open side of the cover 3 as well as to provide for proper stifiening characteristics of the portion which contacts the land 2.

ihe cover 3 is provided with the handle H] which forms a portion of the lock mechanism H which is of conventional key operation and construction and is adapted to lock the cover housing 3 and the base member 2 together.

The cover 3 is provided with a suitable opening through which extends the clock mechanism 42 which is secured to the cover 3 by a plurality of screws IS. The clock mechanism i2 is an electrical timing clock which enables the user or speaker to regulate his talk or reading to a given time in accordance with the given number of minutes as the case may be even to split seconds.

The clock mechanism 22 is provided with a land or face portion l4 through which the time recordings of the clock mechanism 12 are visible to the speaker at all times.

The cover 3 is also provided. with the opening it through which extends the lens l6 which is a magnifying lens and which is provided with the correct curvature to enable the user to satisfactorily observe the reading matter on the scrolls, paper or sheet H which is tightly stretched and extends under the lens l6 which flts approximately at an angle of 45 to accommodate the correct optical vision of the speaker when the portable desk is suitably supported on a table, stand or similar member in front of the speaker. Also the clock mechanism is inclined to more readily accommodate its observance by the vision of the speaker. 1

The lens it is supported by having its end portions entered within the hollow extension portions it which face inwardly and are suitably secured on the plates or bracket members 19 which are secured to the side walls of the cover 3 by means of screws or bolts 29 which are provided with a handle or knob portion 2|, the screws 20 extending through the slots 22 in each of the plates or brackets it to be secured by nut members -33 in a conventional manner.

Thus the plates or brackets 18 are adjustably mounted to permit adjusting the magnifying lens it to various positions to permit the reading matter on the scroll ii to be best observed by the speaker.

The scroll, sheet or paper H is adapted to be printed with the message or speech to be delivered by the speaker or user, and is then wound on the roller or cylindrical member 23 with one end of the scroll, sheet or paper extending over the upper roller 24, and then extending as indicated by the portion 25 to the master roller 28 to which it is suitably secured to permit its being rolled thereon, each of the rollers 23 and 25 being provided with the tubular portions 21 which are closed at their ends by the bushings which are provided at each end with a flange 2% to retain the rolled sheets on the rollers.

It is to be noted that the rollers 23 and 26 are provided with the bushing members 28 which have a larger flange 29 than the bushing members of the roller 25, as the roller 24 engages the scroll in an idler capacity only, whereas substantially the total scroll is rolled or wound initially upon the roller 23 and is then fed or actuated from off of the roller 23 on to the master roller 25, the flange 39 thus being necessarily larger to extend for the full thickness of the total scroll on the rollers 23 and 26, whereas only a single sheet or thickness of the scroll engages and passes by the roller 24.

One of the flanges 29 of the roller 23 is provided with an extension portion 3| which has a bearing in the bushing 32 which is secured to the flange 33 of the bracket 3% as by riveting as indicated at 35, Fig. 5.

The bracket 34 is further provided with a flange 36 through which extends the shaft 31 which extends into the bore 38 of the extension portion 3i, the shaft 3? being provided with a slot 39 which engages the extension portion 40 of the stud ii which fits within the bore 38 of the extension portion 33, said bore having a size sumcient to receive therein the shaft 31, the stud 4! being provided with an extension portion 42 which is secured by being pressed into a bore of one of the flanges 29 as disclosed in Fig. 5.

The resilient member or spring 43 surrounds the shaft 3! and extends between an inside surface of the bushing 3i and the collar 31A to exert a pressure on the extended portion of 3| so that the roller 23 is always urged toward a tight engagement with the bushing 44 which is secured to the flange 45 of the bracket 46 by riveting as indicated at 47.

A stud 48 has a bearing in the bore of the bushing 44. The bracket 46 is secured to the base member l by screws 49 and the bracket 34 is secured to the. base member 8 by the screws 50. The handle or knob 56 is mounted on the shaft 37 and is secured thereto by the pin 52.

The bushing 53 is fixedly secured to the flange 36 by riveting as at 53A, or by similar means, and forms a bearing for the shaft 31, the shaft 31 normally being held out of engagement with the extension portion 413 by the spring 43, the shaft 37 being adapted to be slidably moved to engage the extension portion is when it is desired to rotate the roller 23 manually by the handle or knob 5!.

Thus my portable desk may be operated manually when the driving means, such as the electric motor assembly A, is inoperative, or if the operator desires to advance, retard or retract the reading matter, thus permitting the scroll and rollers to be moved forward or backward at the will of the operator at any time irrespective of the operation of the motor or driving mechanism hereinafter described.

In a similar way the roller 23 is rotatably supported on a bracket 34 located, however, at the opposite side of the portable desk assembly due to the positioning of the driving mechanism for the roller assembly adjacent the other end of the roller 26 at the same side of the portable desk assembly to which the knob or handle 5! is located by the roller 23.

The roller is is supported at its end opposite to one of the brackets 3% by the stud 55 which is provided with an extension portion 58 which enters a bore of one of the flanges 29 of one of the bushings 28 and is rotatably mounted therein, the stud 55 being provided with an extension portion 56A which enters a slot or groove in a head portion of the shaft 5! which is rotatably supported at its inner end in the bushing 58 which is supported in the flange 59 of the bracket 60 by riveting as at. 6| or by similar means, the shaftE'I beingfurther rotatablysupported at its outer end by the extension portion62 engaging a bushing I 68 suitably secured in the flange 94 of the bracket 99 by riveting at 95 or by similar means.

The extension prtion 59A of the stud 55 enters the groove-or slot 99' of theshaft 51 as above statedand the extension portion 56A and the head portion of the shaft 51, through which extends the slot 99, both extend'within the bushing 6'! which thus tends to support th end of the rol1er 29on the shaft l and at the same time provides a driving connection between the roller 29 and the shaft 51.

It is now to be noted that the -springuorresilient member 98 as disclosedin Figs. 3 and 4 is providedwithan opening which extends around the extension. portion 59A of the stud 55 and the head portion 56 of theshaft 5'l through which extends the slot' tt to secure the spring 68between the :bu'shing'iSl and the -stud -55. Thespring 68 is thus fixedly secured to the stud =-55 and the shaft 51 so as to provide a driving connection therebetween' so that when the shaft 51 is driven as hereinafter described the extension portions 69 of thespring 68 will frictionally engage the outer surface of-the flange'29 of the bushing 28 with which it forms contacts by the curved-ends I9 of the spring 68, thus forming a frictionaland relatively slidable driving engagement for the roller 29.

It is now to be: notedthat the electric motor assembly A, which-is of the synchronized type and may be operated on any kind of electric current, is provided with the flanges- 'll which are utilized for securing the electric motorassembly A to the land 2 of the base member I- at a point between the rollers 28 and 26, the flanges 'II being secured by the screws I2 which extend through the flanges II to engage the base member I.

The electric motor assembly A is provided with reduction gear mechanism suitably-mounted in the extension housing 'I3-in a manner to provide a lower driving speed'for the shaft M which is suitably mounted in the extension housing I3 and connected with the driving reduction mech anism therein but which is not disclosed and which may be of conventional design.

The driving shaft I4 of the electric'motor assembly A thusextends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the electric motor assembly A and is adapted to drive the hub member I5 which is secured to the shaft 24 by the pin 'IB or by similar means to form a driving connection therebetween, the hub I5 being provided with a'flange I! which, together with the flange 'IB threadably engaging the extension I9 of the hub l5, forms a clamping means for holding and driving the friction drive member 89 which is constructed of feltrrubber or similar material to provide a frictional driving engagement with the surface 8I of the frictional driven flange or disc 82 which is supported on the shaft 83 and is suitably connected therewith by .the pin 84 or by similar means to form a driving connection therebetween,

it being understood that the above mentioned frictional driving means may be replaced with fiber gear members or other mechanical driving mechanisms asdesired.

The shaft 83 extends within the bore 85 of the head portion 86 of the shaft 81 and is connected.

therewith by the pin 88 or by similar means to form a driving connectionbetween the shafts 83 and-81, the head portion 89of the shaft-8T- being rotatably mounted -in'the bushingi89 which is fixedly mounted in the flange 99 of the bracket 9| A by riveting at 92 why similar means.

The bracket 9IA is further provided with'the flange 98 to which is riveted the extension portion 94 of the shaft: 95 as at 99. The bracket 9 IA is secured to the basemember I by the screws 9?. The shaft Bland the shaft 95 extend within the sleeve or bushing 98 upon whichis fixedly mounted the frictional driving member 9| which is, similar to that disclosed at 88 but of a smaller diameter; the. frictional driving member 9| being clamped by the flange portionc92 of the sleeve 98 and the nut 93A which threadably engages the sleeve 98.

The key I99 forms a driving connection between the frictional driving member BI and the sleeve 98 and in a similarway a key I9I forms a driving connection between a frictional driving member 89 and the shaft I4.

It is to be noted that the shaft 81 is provided with a key way I92 which engages a key member I93 on the sleeve member 98 to form a driving connection between the sleeve 98 and the shaft 81, the sleeve 98, however, being further freely rotatable on the stud 95 which is fixedly supported in the flange 93 of the bracket 9IA. The sleeve 98 is provided with a pair of flanges I94 having a groove I95 extending substantially therearound and therebetween, the roove I95 being slidably engaged by the extension portions I99 of the arm. I91 which is suitably secured to the hub or nut member I98 which is provided with a thread havinga relatively coarse or sharp pitch as indicated by the thread I99 formed in the control shaft I I9 which is rotatably supported by its extension portion III having a bearing in the bushing II2 which is fixedly secured in the flange 99 of the bracket 9IA by riveting as at H8 or by similar means, the shaft H9 being further supported by its extension portion H4 extending through and having a bearing in the bushing 5 I5 which is fixedly secured to the flange 93 by riveting at I I6 or by similar means.

The knob or handle H1 is supported on and secured to the extension portion Il of the shaft II9 by the pin N8, the control shaft Ill! thus being adapted to be rotatably supported by the knob or handle II 'I andto actuate the hub or nut member I98 longitudinally of the shaft H9 to enable its arm I91 to slidably move the sleeve 98 longitudinally of'the shafts 81 and 99 to position the frictional driving member 9i in vari ous driving positions relative to the friction driven flange or disc II9, the full lines in Fig. 3 indicating the frictional driving member 9! as being substantially in a high speed position and in which position it is located relatively near the axis of the shaft-I29 which supports the frictional driven flange or disc H9 which is secured to the shaft I29 by the pin I2I or by similar means.

The dotted lines I22 indicate the position of the frictional driving member 9I after it has been moved substantially to its low speed driving pojacent the peripheral portion of the frictional driven flange or disc I I 9 as indicated by the dotted lines I22.

The shaft I20 is suitably and rotatably supported in the'bushing I29 which is fixedly secured in the flange I25 by riveting at I28 or by similar means. The shaft I26 is further rotatably supported in the bushing l21 which is fixedly supported in the flange I23 by riveting at I23 or by similar means.

It is to be noted that the flanges I25 and I28 are formed on the bracket I33 which is secured to the bracket l3! by the screws I32.

The pinion I33 is supported on the shaft I20 and is driven by means of the key I33, the pinion I33 driving the gear 535 which is rotatably secured on the shaft I35 which is fixedly secured in the bushing I31 by the pin I38, the bushing E31 being secured by riveting at I39, or by similar means, to the flange I25.

The gear I35 rotates between the bushing I31 and the nut Mi which is threadabiy mounted on the shaft i316, the nut hi6 being provided with a pawl or driving pin MI which is adapted to engage the Geneva gear or wheel 542 which is suitably secured to and fixedly mounted on the shaft M3 which is rotatably mounted in the bushing Ed-l which is fixedly secured in the flange M5 of the bracket M5 by riveting at I41 or by similar means.

The bushing M4 is provided with the extension portion 533 which extends through the flange I49 of the bracket I46, the bracket i415 being suitably secured to the bracket 555i by the screws I53.

The bushing I44 is provided with the boss 55! which supports the other end of the shaft I36.

The bevel pinion gear I52 is secured to the shaft I43 by the pin 553 or by similar means, the bevel pinion gear 552 meshing with and driving the bevel gear I54 which is mounted on the shaft 51 and secured thereto as by the pin I55.

The bevel gear I54, drives the shaft 51 which in turn drives the spring 63 as hereinbefore mentioned. The spring I53 is interposed between the washer E51 abutting the end of the bushing I24 and between the hub of the friction driven flange or disc H9 to eliminate chattering in the driving operation of the shaft I25 and its supported parts.

It is to be noted that the Geneva gear or wheel I42 together with its pin engaging member I-aI is more clearly disclosed in Fig. 7 and provides the pin type of intermittent gearing for indexing or locating the shaft I63, together with the spring 68 and its operatively connected parts to a fractional part of a revolution, which thus drives the roller 26 by an intermittent revolving motion.

A roller may be mounted on the pin IdI if desired to eliminate friction in the engagement of the driving means with the Geneva gear or wheel I42.

It is to be noted that the intermittent driving operation of the Geneva gear or wheel I52, together with its driving mechanism will pro vide an intermittent operation of the roller 26 which will thus cause the portion 25 as well as the portion it of the scrolls, sheet or paper to pause and enable the operator to better read and stress the lines or words of a speech or address by permitting them to come up and disclose a certain number of lines at a given time through the lens I6, the movement of the scroll pausing for a pre-determined length of time as a given number of seconds and then automatically moving at a given speed to another prede-- tension portions I58 fixedly secured in the flanges 36 and provided with extension portions I59 which rotatably engage the flanges i653 of the brackets I6I which are located at opposite sides of the base member I and are secured thereto by the screws I62.

It is to be noted that the screw member 20 for securing the brackets I9 in position extend through the side walls of the cover or housing 3 and are adapted to be engaged by the nuts I63 which thus enable the operator to tightly or loosely engage the screws 23 to permit the lens I6, together with the brackets I3, to be moved upwardly or downwardly to adjust the lens I6 in the proper position in accordance with the desires of the operator.

The lens I6 is provided with a hairline I64 to facilitate the maintenance of the vision of the operator on the words or line of words which is being spoken, the movement of the roller intermittently bringing the lines of the words up to the hairline I64, the scroll pausing sufficiently with the line which is. being read to be disclosed adjacent the hairline I64.

The light bulb I65 as disclosed in Fig. 2 may be suitably mounted and supported from the side wall of the brackets l9 so that it will illuminate the scroll I1 and the lens I6 to render the reading matter I66, as indicated in Fig. 6, visible through the lens I6 to the speaker, the light bulb I35 being automatically moved with the brackets I9 during their adjustment movement.

The electric switch I61 is suitably mounted in the housing or cover 3 at its forward position adjacent the clock mechanism I2 and is provided with a lever or button I68 readily operated by the speaker when standing adjacent the portable desk.

The side wall portions of the cover housing 3 are provided with slots I and I'll as disclosed in Fig. 2 to permit the cover housing 3 to operate by and adjacent the knobs or handles 5| and H1 at one side of the cover housing 3. The cover housing 3 may be provided with a suitable opening I12 through which extends the electric cable I13 which is electrically connected with the electric motor assembly A as disclosed in Fig. 3 to permit the cable I14 to extend outside of the cover housing 3 and to connect with a source of electric supply as with a conventional plug, thus permitting the electric plug to be plugged in to an electric source of supply such as is used in lighting buildings and similar structures.

The cables I13 and H4 are electrically connected to the switch mechanism I 61 to permit control by the button or lever 668 after the cable I13 has been plugged in to its source of electric current.

The cable I15 is electrically connected at I16 to the clock mechanism I2 and may be connected with the cable I14 in the terminal point I16 to permit the clock mechanism to be automatically thrown into operation at the same time the electric motor assembly A is started in its operation, this being controlled by the operation of the button or lever I68 of the switch mechanism I61.

In similar way a conventional electric connection may be made between the light bulb I55 and the switch mechanism 561 to enable the light bulb I65 to be illuminated at the same time the operation of the clock mechanism I2 and the electric motor assembly A is started.

In operation, the speech, music or words which the speaker, user or operator is going to use in an address or in any way are printed on the scroll, sheet or paper I I and then the scroll I1 is suitably secured to the roller member 23 and stretched over and in engagement with the roller 24 to disclose the portion II of the scroll, sheet or paper below the lens I6, the scroll being further extended by the portion 25 and suitably secured to the roller 26. Then with the beginning of the speech or music or words to be used in the address or entertainment being initially positioned under the lens It, the speaker or operator electrically connects the electric motor assembly A with a, source of electric current which enables the electric motor assembly to be automatically started by the operation of the button or lever I68 of the switch mechanism I67, the operation of the button or switch member I68 also plugging in and operating the clock mechanism I2 as well as illuminating the light bulb I65.

As the operator throws the button or lever I68 of the switch mechanism I61, the electric motor assembly A will begin to operate and rotate the shaft 14 which in turn drives the frictionally driven member 80 which by frictional engagement with the surface 8| of the frictional driven disc 82 will drive the shafts 83 and 81 which will in turn drive the frictional driving member III which in turn will drive the frictional driven flange or disc H9.

The driving of the frictional driven flange or disc II9 will drive the shaft I20 and the gear I33, the gear I33 in turn driving the gear I35 which drives the nut I together with the pawl or driving pin MI which engages the Geneva gear or wheel I42 with an intermittent motion to drive the shaft I43 which in turn drives the driving bevel gear I52 which drives the bevel gear I54 together with the shaft 51, which drives in turn the spring 68 which, with its frictional contact through the curved portions III with the outside surface of the flange 29, will drive the roller 26, the stud 55 rotating in the bore 56 of the flange 29.

The operator selects the speed at which the roller 26 operates by means of the nut member I03 which is movably operated longitudinally on the shaft I II) by the knob or handle member I" to position the frictional driving member 9| as desired relative to the periphery of the frictional driven disc II9 to select a speed at which it is desired to have the scroll operate.

As the roller 26 is operated it will draw the portion 25 of the scroll I! over the roller 24 and off of the roller 23 until the end of the words or printed matter on the scroll II is past the hairline I64 of the lens I6.

I It is to be noted and understood that due to the engagement of the pin MI of the nut member Hill with the Geneva wheel or gear I42, each line of words of the scroll II will be moved adjacent the hairline I66 and then the scroll I! will pause a predetermined length of time and then again move automatically at a given speed so that the other lines of words are presented in their turn adjacent the hairline I64.

The operation of the nut member I I! will thus retard or increase the speed of the scroll operating mechanism as desired by the operator and in accordance with the speed with which it is desired that the words on the scroll II are to approach the line I64.

Also it is to be noted that my scroll operating mechanism may be driven by the electric motor assembly A or it may be driven by hand by means of the knob or hand members 5! which will thus permit the operation of the rollers 23 and 2d due to the relatively slidable engagement of the spring 68 with the flange 29 of the roller 26.

It is to be noted that as the operator controls the operative movement of the scroll I'I past and under the lens I6, the clock mechanism I2 will inform him as to the passage of time as indicated by the conventional symbols, oneof which is disclosed at IlI'I in Figs. 1 and 6.

ating mechanism normally maintained within the cover housing 3.

It is to be understood that the propelling or driving means of my invention may be altered or redesigned to meet various conditions and necessities without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a portable desk for use by a speaker making an address, the combination of a base member, a cover housing pivotally mounted on said base member, a lens member mounted in an opening in said cover housing, a roller member rotatably supported by said base member in said cover housing, means for manually rotating said roller member, a second roller member rotatably supported by said base member in said cover housing, a second means for manually rotating said second roller member, a third roller member rotatably supported by said base member in said cover housing, a sheet or scroll suitably secured to and rolled on said first mentioned roller member and extending across said lens member, said sheet or scroll member engaging said third roller member and being suitably secured to said second roller member, said sheet or scroll being provided with the words of said address thereon, a shaft rotatably supported by said base in said cover housing, a friction drive member rotatably supported by said base member, a gear train driven by said friction drive member and provided with means for engaging and driving a Geneva wheel, a Geneva wheel rotatably supported by said base member and driven by said means of said friction drive member, a relatively slidable mechanism driving said second roller member, said relatively slidable mechanism being driven by said Geneva wheel, a threaded shaft rotatably mounted, manual means for rotating said threaded shaft, a nut member movably mounted on and adapted tobe moved longitudinally of said threaded shaft by said threaded shaft, said nut member being adapted to actuate said friction drive member to diiferent driving positions, an electric motor assembly supported in said cover housing, and drive mechanism operatively connecting said electric motor assembly and said first mentioned shaft.

2. In a portable desk, the combination of a scroll, rollermeans for moving said scroll, means for driving said first mentioned means, a housing covering said scroll and said roller means, said housing being provided with an opening above said scroll, a pair of brackets oppositely disposed in said opening and each provided with portions for supporting a lens, and a lens supported in said portions of said brackets and extending within said opening of said housing.

3. In a portable desk, the combination of a scroll, roller means supporting said scroll, a shaft fixedly supported, a second shaft rotatably supported in alignment with said first mentioned shaft, a sleeve member slidably mounted on said first mentioned and said second shafts and driven by said second shaft to rotate therewith, a third shaft rotatably mounted adjacent said first mentioned and said second shafts, a nut member movably mounted on said third shaft and adapted to be driven thereby axially thereof, said nut member being operatively connected with and adapted to shift said sleeve member axially of said first mentioned and said second shafts, a friction drive member mounted on said sleeve member and driven thereby, a friction disc member driven by said friction drive member, means for driving said first mentioned shaft, means for manually rotating said third shaft, power transmission means connecting said friction disc member and said roller means, and a lens supported above said scroll.

4. A portable desk of the type described, comprising a base, a housing disposed over said base and having side walls and a top wall, the top wall comprising a portion disposed at an angle to the horizontal, said portion having an opening, a lens disposed in said opening, bracket means carried by the side walls for supporting said lens, devices carried by said base and disposed within said housing for supporting and moving a scroll past said lens in a plane parallel to the plane of said portion of said top wall, and means for adjustably moving said bracket means and said lens to and from said scroll.

5. A portable desk of the type described comprising a base, a pay-out roller and a take-up roller carried by said base, an idler roller carried by said base and disposed substantially above the plane of the pay-out and take-up rollers, motor means carried by said base for rotating said take-up roller, means for intermittently transmitting power from said motor to said takeup roller, manual means for rotating said payout and take-up rollers, a housing supported by said base, and a lens carried by said housing and disposed over and in a plane parallel to the plane formed by said pay-out and idler rollers.

6. A portable desk of the type described comprising a base, a pay-out roller and a take-up roller carried by said base, an idler roller carried by said base and disposed substantially above the plane of the pay-out and take-up rollers, motor means carried by said base for rotating said take-up roller, means for intermittently transmitting power from said motor to said take-up roller, a housing supported by said base and a lens carried by said housing and disposed over and in a plane parallel to the plane formed by said pay-out and idler rollers.

'7. A portable desk of the type described comprising a base, a pay-out roller and a take-up roller carried by said base, an idler roller carried by said base and disposed substantially above the plane of the pay-out and take-up rollers, motor means carried by said base for rotating said take-up roller, a housing supported by said base, a lens carried by said housing, said lens being disposed in a plane parallel to the plane formed by said pay-out and idler rollers, and means for moving said lens to and from said last mentioned plane.

8. A portable desk of the type described, comprising a housing, the upper wall of said housing having two openings, an electrically operated clock disposed within said housing and in registry with one of said openings, devices disposed within said housing for supporting and moving a scroll past the other opening, said devices comprising an electric motor and means for intermittently transmitting power from the motor to the scroll, and a switch carried by the housing and electrically connected to the clock and the motor and controlling the simultaneous operation of both.

9. In a portable desk, the combination of a housing, a pair of rollers mounted therein for supporting a scroll manuscript, means carried by each roller and disposed eXteriorly of the housing for the manual rotation thereof and for manually feeding said scroll in either direction, a motor disposed within the housing, and intermittent power transmitting means connecting said motor to one of said rollers, the means comprising a relatively slidable device, thereby permitting the manual control of the movement of said scroll in either direction without interrupting the operation of said motor.

10. A portable desk comprising a base plate, an electric motor mounted on said base plate, a pay-out roller and a take-up roller carried by said base for supporting and moving a scroll manuscript, an electric motor carried by said base, intermittent power transmitting means operatively interposed between said motor and the take-up roller, and a housing having two openings, an electric clock carried by said housing and exposed to View through one of said openings, and a lens carried by said housing mounted in the other opening, an electric switch controlling the clock and motor, said housing being hingedly mounted on said base and enclosing said motor and rollers, and said power transmitting means; said rollers each having a knob exteriorly of the housing, and said power transmitting means comprising a relatively slidable device, thereby permitting the manual control of the operation of said rollers without interrupting the operation of said motor.

DAVID BARRON OKELLY. 

